What are newborn hiccups?
Newborn hiccups refer to the phenomenon that the baby\’s cardia (responsible for controlling the switch between the esophagus and the stomach) is immature after birth, causing food to reflux into the esophagus after feeding or crying. This reflux irritates the nerves in the esophagus, causing the breathing muscles to contract uncontrollably, causing hiccups. While hiccups are common in newborns, they can cause rare but serious breathing problems if not treated correctly. Therefore, it is important to know how to relieve hiccups in newborns.
How to relieve hiccups in newborns?
The following methods can be used to relieve hiccups in newborns:
1. Change breastfeeding posture
Many mothers prefer to hold their babies while breastfeeding, but this position may increase the risk of hiccups. Try changing the feeding position so that the baby\’s head is kept high or the body is slightly tilted. This prevents the baby from swallowing air and reduces stomach gas.
2. Keep the baby upright before and after feeding
Try to keep the baby upright before and after feeding. This will help keep food closed at the cardia and avoid reflux into the esophagus. Hold the baby upright after feeding and pat the baby\’s back gently to encourage burping.
3. Massage the baby
Baby can be given a gentle massage to aid digestion and reduce pressure on the cardia. Use massage oil or massage lotion. Massage techniques should be gentle and try to avoid causing pressure on the baby\’s body.
4. Change the bottle
If the baby uses a bottle to drink milk, it is best to choose a pacifier with good milk sucking effect. Also try using a slow-flow nipple to reduce the chance of your baby swallowing air.
Precautions for newborn hiccups
While it\’s important to relieve hiccups, there are a few things you need to be aware of:
1. Avoid overeating
Drinking too much milk and being too full may increase the risk of hiccups in babies. Follow the principle of gradually increasing the amount of milk. Because the baby\’s stomach is relatively small, feed multiple times rather than overfeeding.
2. Monitor the baby’s condition
Even though hiccups are common in newborns, it\’s important to monitor your baby\’s condition at all times and treat any unusual symptoms promptly. If your baby is crying or choking, or has shortness of breath or a stuffy nose, he or she should consult a doctor immediately.
3. Avoid forcing babies to burp
Although hiccups may seem annoying, forcing them on a baby is not a good idea. When hiccups occur naturally, try to allow the baby to relieve stomach air, but do not force the baby to burp.
Conclusion
Hiccups are a common problem in newborns, but the right relief methods can reduce discomfort and prevent more serious problems. No single relief method is complete and effective, so it is important to try and combine multiple methods in your daily life. Being vigilant and mindful of using appropriate techniques when caring for your newborn on a daily basis can make your baby less worried and uncomfortable with hiccups.
